Spring structure



Oct. 13, 1942. E. c. THROOP SPRING STRUCTURE Filed July 12, 1940Patented Oct. 13, 1942 UNITED STATES rsr OFFICE SPRING STRUCTURE Enos 0.Throop, Jackson, Mich., assignor to Reynolds Spring Company, Jackson,Mich., a

corporation of Delaware 5 Claims.

The present invention relates to cushion spring structures and moreparticularly to the backs thereof.

The usual cushion spring structure consists of front and rear portionshaving disposed therebetween a plurality of helical springs, the frontbeing covered with padding and the entire structure being covered withupholstery. Such constructions must be so designed that under allconditions of ordinary operation the forces to which the structures aresubjected will not cause the front of the structure to strike the rearof the structure, a condition commonly known as hitting bottom.Heretofore, hitting bottom has been avoided by providing helical springsof suflicient depth. The present invention is for the purpose ofproviding a spring cushion structure in which not only is hitting bottomimpossible, but also the overall depth of the cushion structure ismaterially decreased, from the corresponding depth of prior artstructures. One place in which the present invention finds particularapplication is in the construction of the back cushion of the front seatof five-passenger automobile coupes wherein in the saving in depthresults in increasing the length of the small sized rear passengercompartment.

An object of the invention is to provide a spring structure, the rearpfwhich is yieldable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spring structure, havinga plurality of bowed longitudinally extensible members bridging a rearsection thereof and supporting at least a substantial portion of theload resisting part of the structure.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a spring cushionstructure having at the rear thereof a pair of spaced elongated members,bridged by longitudinally yieldable resilient members for absorbingthrust against the front of the structure.

These and other objects residing in the arrangement, combination andconstruction of the parts will be apparent from the followingspecification when taken with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of a spring structure according to thepresent invention,

Fig. 2 is a section on the line II-II of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of the detail, and

Fig. 4 is a partial View of another embodiment of the invention.

Referring particularly to the drawing, the reference character Iindicates the rear frame of a spring cushion structure having a frontframe 2, shown particularly in Fig; 2. The frame I, as disclosed in Fig.1, is lying on its side, having a bottom portion 3, and a top portion 4.The frame I is provided with a supplementary top member 5 andintermediate transverse members 6 and 1. In addition, short reinforcingmembers 8 are provided. The intersecting members of the bottom frame Iare joined together by spot weldmg.

Bridging the spaced members 6 and 1 are spanning springs 9, which aresubstantially straight members of Wire, each having a plurality of loopsfor rendering the spanning springs 9 longitudinally expansible andcontractible. As shown particularly in Fig. 2, the springs 9 are bowedinwardly of the spring structure, but as shown in dotted outline in Fig.2, may be bowed outwardly of the spring structure under stress.

Supported on the portions of the frame I, including the spanning springs9, are a plurality of helical springs H of the hour glass type. Thesprings II are secured to the parts of the frame I by suitable clips I2.The springs H at the front ends thereof are suitably clipped to theframe 2, and tied together in any suitable manner such as by fabricstrips !3 and springs M in a known manner.

As shown particularly in Fig. 1, the spanning springs 9 are spaced withrespect to the frame I and with respect to each other so as to besubstantially tangent to bottom coils of the springs Il. Also, each ofthe spanning springs 9 is provided at the ends thereof with an angularportion l5, as shown particularly in Fig, 3, by means of which eachspanning spring 9 is hinged, through a sleeve I6, to the members 6 andl. The strength of the springs I! with respect to the strength of thespanning springs 9 is such that for all normal forces exerted on thefront of the spring structure, the force is absorbed by the springs Hwith no substantial yielding of the spanning springs 9. However, shouldan unusually large force be directed against the front of the springstructure, so as to substantially completely collapse the springs ll,such a force is absorbed by the spanning springs 9 which will then yieldand if a sufficiently large force is exerted against the front of thespring structure, the spanning springs 9 will yield to the extentdisclosed in dotted outline in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 4 is shown another embodiment of the invention wherein thespanning springs 9 are replaced by spanning springs I1, similar in formtothe spanning springs 9 but being anchored at the top side of thecushion structure to the frame member 5 rather than to the frame member6. It will be understood, however, that in this form of the inventionthe spanning springs [1 function in the same manner as the spanningsprings 9 in the form of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2.

While the spanning springs 9 and I! have been disclosed as provided witha plurality of loops, it will be understood that these springs may takeother forms and still be longitudinally expansible and contractible.Accordingly, I do not wish to be limited except by the scope of thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. In a spring structure of the character de scribed, front and rearstructures, and a plurality of helical springs between said front andrear structures, said springs being arranged in rows and being connectedtogether to provide a unit, said rear structure having a pair ofelongated spaced members, and a plurality of spanning elongated springsarranged in separate pairs bridging said members, said spanning springshaving longitudinally spaced means rendering them longitudinallyexpansible and contractible, said helical springs having their rearportions supported by said spanning springs at portions between saidmeans, the helical springs of each row bridging a different pair ofbridging springs.

2. In a spring structure of the character described, front and rearstructures, and a plurality of helical springs between said front andrear structures, connected together to provide a unit, said rearstructure having a pair of elongated spaced members, and having aplurality of resilient longitudinally extending wires bridging saidmembers, said wires arranged in separate pairs having along theirrespective lengths a plurality of spaced bends to render said wireslongitudinally expansible and contractible, said wires having asupporting connection with said helical springs at points between saidbends to resist resiliently thrust imparted to said intermediatestructure during use, each helical spring bridging one of said pairs ofwires,

3. In a spring structure of the character described, front and rearstructures, and a plurality of helical springs between said front andrear structures, connected together to provide a unit, said rearstructure having a pair of elongated spaced members, and having aplurality of resilient longitudinally extending wires bridging saidmembers, said wires arranged in separate pairs having along therespective lengths thereof a plurality of spaced coiled loops to rendersaid wires longitudinally expansible and contractible, said wires havinga supporting connection with said helical springs at points between saidloops to resist resiliently thrust imparted to said intermediatestructure during use, each helical spring bridging one of said pairs ofwires.

4. In a spring structure of the character described, front and rearstructures, and a plurality of helical springs between said front andrear structures, connected together to provide a unit, said rearstructure having a pair of elongated spaced members, and having aplurality of resilient longitudinally extending wires arranged inseparate pairs, bowed inwardly of said spring structure, said wireshaving along the respective lengths thereof a plurality of spaced bendsto render said wires longitudinally expansible and contractible, saidwires having a supporting connection with said helical springs at pointsbetween said bends to resist resiliently thrust imparted to saidintermediate structure during use, each helical spring bridging one ofsaid pairs of wires.

5. In a spring structure of the character described, a rear structure, aplurality of helical springs supported from said rear structure, saidrear structure and springs being connected together to provide a unit,said rear structure having a pair of elongated spaced members and aplurality of resilient longitudinally extending wires arranged inseparate pairs bridging said members, said wires having along theirrespective lengths a plurality of spaced bends to render said wireslongitudinally expansible and contractible, said wires being arranged inpairs, said helical springs having their rear portions supported by saidwires on portions between said bends, said helical springs bridging themembers of said pairs.

ENOS C. 'I'HROQP.

